• Monaco GP - Qualifying

Button: Magnussen was just quicker

ESPN Staff
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Jenson Button says he has no excuses for dropping out of Q2 in Monaco and that Kevin Magnussen just did a better job by getting into the final qualifying session.

Button could only manage 12th in Q2 as he struggled to record a clean lap in the closing stages, while team-mate Magnussen showed what might have been as he made it into Q3 and put the car in eighth.

"Kevin drove the car quicker, basically, he did a better job," Button said. "In Q1 I felt reasonably happy with the car and the pace was there as well, but Q2 started with a bit of traffic on my first lap and I didn't get a lap together after that. Truthfully I just didn't get a lap, no excuses, I just didn't get a lap."

Button, who won the race at Monaco in 2009, is under no illusions his position on the grid sets up a potentially frustrating day tomorrow.

"I've been here a few times before so I know it's going to be a tough race but we'll see what we can do. I think there needs to be a bit of action. The problem is these days because tyres last so long around here, cars will be stopping as early as they dare in terms of traffic and then just sitting all in a train until the end of the rain.

"Maybe someone will be brave to make some moves but when you keep making them it can be a disaster."

Despite his lower grid position Button feels McLaren is actually better on the tyres in Monaco than it has been in previous rounds.

"I think in high-speed corners certain cars can produce a lot of tyre temperature because they have a lot of downforce. We aren't so strong in that area so we struggle to warm the tyres up but we have other means of generating tyre temperature, I think we're very good at that.

"So around here we don't suffer compared to our competitors, maybe we are slightly better in terms of getting the tyres working. For me I tried to do my lap as a first-time lap and I think I was one of the only cars, I'm not sure if that was right or not but I was on the cusp of making it work."

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